Counter-operating mechanism for hub-odometers



R. R. KARICH.

COUNTER OPERATING MECHANISM FOR HUB ODOMETERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21. 1919.

1,387,056, Patented Aug 9, 1921.

m x I V Rudolf ZZKarick,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUDOLF B. KABICH, OI WOODHAVEN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THEAMERICAN TANIHETEB COMPANY, 01" NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

COUNTER-OPERATING MECEANISNI FOR HUB-ODOMETERS.

' Specification of team Patent. Pate t d Aug. 9, 1921.

Application filed May 8, 191.9. Serial No. 295,808.

the means for operating the counter or reg-,

ister of such devices.

' mounting this mechanism it must be con-.

As is well known it is desirable, in order to provide a thoroughly accurate and 'reli-. able hub-odometer, that the operating means for the counter or'register mechanism be such that regardless of the direction of movement of the vehicle the distance traveled will always be measured, and furthermore, owing to the relatively small space available'for structed with a view to making the parts substantial and durable without unduly increasing their size or multiplying the number of parts.

Accordingly, the present invention has primarily in view a simple, practical, and reliable counter operating mechanism which is particularly feasible from acommercial standpoint and practical and durable in actual use.

With the above and-other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, com+ bination and arrangement of the parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: I v igure 1 is a vertical sectional view'showing the application of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the operating mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2 showing the oscillating pawl carrying frame swung to an opposite position to that shown in Fig. 2. I I

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the oscillating driving frame.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several fig ures of the rawings.

In carrying the present invention into effect, it is proposedto utilize the same in connection with a register or counter supporting member A which has associated therewith a shaft or spindle portion B connected to the stationary axle-part S by means of a coupling C, while the said shaft B ,is supported 'in a driving plate D fitted tothe odometer casing E carried by the wheel hub.

The driving plate 1) being connected with the odometer casing, rotates with the wheel, and therefore constitutes the driving means for the register mechanism which is held sta-' tionary and is in effect a part or continuation of the axle-part S.

The counter supporting member A is preferably provided with a plurality 9f regularly spaced posts 1 for supporting interengaging register wheels 2 of well-known construction, and which are operated by a driving gear unit designated in its entirety as 3 and consisting of the relatively small drive pinion 4 and the relatively large ratchet wheel 5 both of which are mounted upon a spindle 6 also carried by the counter supporting member A. 5 I

As will be observed from Figs. 2 and 3, the carrier member A is provided with a central post 7, and on opposite sides thereof with the openings 8 and 9. In addition to providing 6 constitutes a pivot axis for the oscillating driving frame 10 which is of substantially triangular formation, with its apex pivoted on the spindle 6 while the-opposite corners thereof are provided with rearwardly extending cam engaging fingers 11 and 12 adapted to project through the openings 8 and 9 respectively to engage with a cam 13 carried by the driving plate D. The said oscillating driving frame 10.may also be provided with an opening 7, to provide the necessary clearance for the post 7 and the latter is preferably provided with the flange 7 adapted to lockthe said frame in position, that is against displacement from the face of the carrier. Thus, the flange 7 maintains the frame in such a position that its fingers 11 and 12 will always be in position to engage the cam 13.

For the purpose of driving the gear unit 3, the oscillating frame 10 carries a stud 14 havthe support for the gear unit 3, the spindle mounted on the post 7. The said driving and check pawls l5 and 16 may be connected as shown by means of a spring 17 wherebyboth of the same are caused to positively engage the periphery of the ratchet wheel 5.

With the arrangement described it will be apparent that because the fingers 11 and 12 of the oscillating frame 10 project through the openings in the supporting member and engage with the periphery of the cam 13, this frame will be oscillated by the cam and shift about the pivot 6 whereby the pawl 15 on the stud 14: will reciprocate and operate the gear unit. That is to say, as the frame 10 oscillates in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, it will move the ratchet wheel forward one tooth, while as it oscillates in the other direction it will pull the pawl back over the next tooth so that upon the next movement in the direction of the arrow it will again advance the ratchet wheel the distance of one tooth. Owing to the hooked shape of the end of the check pawl 16, it will simply trail over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 5 as the pawl 15 advances the same one tooth. and when the frame 10 is moving in the direction opposite the arrow the said pawl 16 will prevent retrograde movement of the gear unit.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the register wheels 2 are operated by the driving gear unit 3 which in turn is actuated through the oscillating driving frame 10 that is shifted by the rotation of the cam 13. That is to say, as the carrier member A is held in a stationary position by-reason of its connection with an axle-part, and the cam 18 is carried by the driving plate D which rotates with the casing E, the frame 10 will be oscillated about the pivot 6 by reason of the fingers 11 and 12 engaging with the periphery of the cam, and this oscillation of the frame will alternately cause the pawl 15 to push the ratchet wheel forward one tooth, and then trail backward to engage the next tooth, etc. The present construction is particularly advantageous from a commercial standpoint, since the frame 10 may be readily made from sheet metal by a stamping operation, and furthermore the simplicity and accessibility of the several parts make the assembly of the invention a comparatively simple and inexpensive operation.

\Vithout further description it is thought that other advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of constructionmay be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A counter operating mechanism for hub odometers including a rotatable driving plate, a stationary counter support, a driving gear unit mounted on the counter support to rotate in a plane parallel to the plane of rotation of the driving plate, and means for actuating the driving unit also operating in a plane parallel to the plane of operation of the driving plate and operatively connected therewith.

2. A counter operating mechanism for hub odometers including a rotatable driving plate. a stationary counter support, a driving gear unit mounted on the counter support to rotate in a plane parallel to the plane of rotation of the driving plate, and oscillating means for actuating the driving unit also operating in a plane parallel to the plane of operation of the driving plate and operatively connected therewith:

3. A counter operating mechanism for hub odometers including a rotatable driving plate, a stationary counter support, a drive ing gear unit mounted on the counter sup port to rotate in a plane parallel to the plane of rotation of the-driving plate, and an oscillatingframe pivoted concentric with the axis of the driving gear unit and having means for engaging with the said rotatable driving plate.

4. A counter operating mechanism for hub odometers including a rotatable driving plate carrying a cam, a stationary counter support lying in a plane parallel to the body of the driving plate, a spindle projecting at right angles from the face of the counter support, a driving gear unit carried by said spindle, an oscillating frame pivoted on said spindle and operatively connected with the driving gear unit, and means carried by said oscillating frame for engaging with the cam of the driving plate.

5. A counter operating mechanism for hub odometers including a rotatable driving plate carrying a cam, a stationary counter support lying in a plane parallel to the body of the driving plate, a spindle projecting from the face of the said support, a counter driving gear unit carried by said spindle and adapted tov rotate in a plane parallel with the plane of rotation of the driving plate, an oscillating frame pivotally supported on the spindle and having means for engaging with the said cam, an operating connection between the oscillating frame and the driving gear unit and means for preventing retrograde movement of said latter unit.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RUDOLF R. KARIOH.

Witnesses:

EMORY L. GROFF, E, N. TOMPKINS. 

